PROPOSED AMALGAMATION OF COUNTIES,

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19485, 9 May 1933, Page 4

PROPOSED AMALGAMATION OF COUNTIES,

To the Editor or " Tire Timaru Herald" Sir, —“Old Ratepayer” appears to be slightly annoyed at the idea of the amalgamation of the Levels and Mackenzie Counties, and also at the fact that the whole business can be fixed up in a very short time without bother to himself or any of the ratepayers. Surely the poor farmer has troubles enough of his own—poor prices and markets, over taxation, dodging interest and rates, attending Farmers’ Union meetings, etc., and the ratepayers ought only be too pleased that with or without their consent the work of inaugurating the new county will be proceeded with. A company of specialised experts, with headquarters near Fairlie, has taken the job in hand, and as its numbers comprise gentlemen trained to the highest efficiency in engineering, economics and statistics, and running hospitals, the ordinary workaday ratepayer sjiould be delighted to learn that all he is asked to do is to pay the rates. These experts, a Government Commission, and an Order-in-Council, and given a free hand by tlje Levels County Council, will soon do the trick. I would suggest that the meetings of the young county could, at the kind invitation of Mr Wigley, be held at least six times a year at the Hermitage. Such interesting matters as laying the dust of the main highways with mountain dew, parking the snow ploughs at Seadown and Pareora, and economy in road maintenance by the use of Chinese labour, could be carefully and fully considered. I trust I have convinced “Old Ratepayer” that this amalgamation is not a matter in which the ordinary common garden variety of ratepayer is to have any say whatever, but should be left to the committee of select self-appointed experts. All that is required from him is to pay up any extra rates and look sweet, —I am, etc., MUSSOLINI.